Top Safety Accreditation for VSI

Llanelli, Wales, UK based Vaughan Sound Installations Ltd (VSI), part of the PAI Group of companies, has received SAFEcontractor accreditation status.

VSI is a specialist in sound, lighting and AV design, specification installation and integration. The PAI Group also includes sister companies Lighting Technology Projects, PA Installations and Link-AV.

SAFEcontractor is a leading-edge accreditation scheme that assesses the health & safety competency of contractors and service providers, designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The SAFEcontractor programme recognises the very high standards of health and safety practice existing amongst UK contractors.

VSI's application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need to establish a uniform standard across its business. It is expected to enhance the company's ability to win new contracts, and the commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when its public liability policy is up for renewal.

The most important benefit of being a member of the SAFEcontractor scheme is that the company's Health & Safety competence has been proven to a range of more than 120 major clients - most of who insist on membership in order to work for them.

Darran Hughes, Operations Director for SAFEcontractor said: “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies”.

Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines their health and safety procedures in depth and assesses their track record for safe working practices. The companies meeting these exacting standards are then included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via the official SAFEContractor website.

In 2009, the PAI Group of Companies as a whole was awarded ISO 9001 certification.

VSI's Andy Bonehill says, “We are delighted to be awarded this accreditation in line with our ongoing strategy to underwrite our competence in AV integration. Coupled with our existing ISO9001 certification and additional plans to improve health and safety management during 2010 and beyond, we are looking to raise standards and add value to all work completed for clients".